Course | Description |
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MPA 625 Introduction to Public Administration | The purpose of this course is to introduce students, entering the Masters of Public Administration Program (MPA), to the discipline and profession of public service and administration. Graduate study in public service seeks to combine the insights from classics in the field with the best of contemporary experience, literature and research. It challenges each of us to examine and make a lasting commitment to the public service, to the solution of complex, exciting, and at times very perplexing problems that face our society today. It also challenges us to continue to learn, to participate on a continuing basis with colleagues in professional societies, and in doing so, to share our knowledge and experience with others. |
MPA 627 Human Resources Management | Designed for public and non-profit managers rather than human resource professionals, this course gives a broad overview of HR dynamics and responsibilities. The course begins by considering different approaches to HR and placing them within the overall context of the public sector and non-profit organizations. Basic personnel functions will be covered, including recruitment, career development, performance appraisal, providing feedback and job design. Finally, the course will explore current issues within personnel management, including diversity and identity at work and the role of unions. |
MPA 629 Function in State & Local Government | All nations, at any point in time and regardless of size, history, or culture, confront a basic question. How are the competing claims of the center (or capital) and periphery (regions or locales) resolved in selecting the form(s) of governance? In the United States this issue has regularly been framed in legal/constitutional terms and the primary and historic concept for center-periphery relationships is commonly called federalism (FED). The 20th Century stretched and reshaped American FED in a variety of ways. The alterations were sufficiently significant that two new concepts emerged as features of changing center-periphery relationships. The first concept, Intergovernmental Relations (IGR), originated in the 1930s and introduced a major shift in the framework and avenues for analysis of center-periphery linkages. Fiscal, regulatory, and policy implementation issues became prominent agenda concerns in addition to state-local and inter-local relations. By the 1970s domestic policies produced further nuances and dynamics that gave rise to another concept, Intergovernmental Management (IGM).As the term implies, the role of bureaucracy (and public administrators) assumed major importance. Likewise, the role of \third-parties,. particularly nonprofit as well as for-profit organizations, emerged as significant participants in IGM. |
MPA 630 Health Care Administration | This course brings together students with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences as consumers, providers within healthcare organizations and policy makers to critically examine the organizational and management concepts that influence planning and decision-making. The emphasis is on studying the various forms of health organizations as well as administrative behaviors used in adaptation and policy development. |
MPA 631 Values and Ethics in Public Policy | The course is designed and delivered as an introduction to the concepts of values and ethics for professionals working in public service within the public sector. It introduces the basic ethical values of virtue, truth and justice and explores how these values translate into public/not-for-profit corporate values, ethical principles and ethical behaviors in the areas of public policy, politics and administration. The ethical responsibilities of leadership within the public sector are also emphasized. |
MPA 632 Financial Resource Development | Students will have an opportunity to deepen their knowledge regarding the trends and outside forces which impact the not-for-profit world, especially in these difficult economic times. The course will focus on the “nuts & bolts” of grant writing, technology choices, and the ethical issues which may be encountered. Included in this course will be a class on how to start a non-profit organization. |
MPA 636 Culture of Health Care | This course explores the impact of culture on health, and in development of culturally appropriate interventions for communities. It will build on epidemiological concepts and apply anthropological methodologies to understanding the impact of culture on health status, service utilization, and cultural conflicts between health care providers and members of ethnic communities. |
MPA 637 Marketing and Public Relations | This course is designed to provide a broad based understanding of the principles and practices of strategic marketing and public relations as well as their applicability to public and nonprofit organizations. It emphasizes the need for strategic planning in the marketing, not only of products, but also of programs and services. It is intended to enable public and nonprofit managers to manage their marketing efforts strategically. |
MPA 640 Research Methods in Public Administration | This course focuses on techniques most prevalent in the public and not-for-profit sectors and/or the public administration literature. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methodology approaches are highlighted. Topics include how to write a research question, how to review existing literature, how to conceptualize variables and operationalize research, how to gather and analyze data, and how to report, interpret and make recommendations from findings. This course requires active participation and interaction with public and/or not-for-profit organizations. |
MPA 642 Health Care Law and Ethics | This course addresses legal and ethical issues frequently encountered by health care managers. Topics include the constitutional basis for government support of health care services and constraints that the law and regulatory structures impose on the health care industry. Bioethical theory, policy formulation, and decision making in the professional setting are also included. Specific issues discussed are the right to health care, allocation of scarce resources, choices regarding death, liability of health care providers, and governing board and medical and health care staff responsibilities. |
MPA 643 Research Project Independent Study | This course is an independent study involving partnering with the project mentor in preparation of the completion of the Capstone Research Project. This course is a prerequisite to MPA 644.The project must conform to the content and format outlined in the graduate student project handbook. This course will provide the student the guidance and support in developing the necessary components to prepare the defense of the student’s research proposal. Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to defend their research proposal, and upon IRB clearance begin their data collection. |
MPA 644 Capstone Seminar | Students begin preparing for this capstone course starting with their first course in the program. Beginning with that course and continuing through all their ensuing courses, students lay the foundation through reading, skills development and research for two culminating capstone projects related to their job or professional field—one individual and the other collaborative. |